Belvedere councilman steps down, citing time constraints

Belvedere City Councilman Siavash Barmand will step down Jan. 1 due to business travel that has left him without sufficient time for city affairs, he said.

"My wife Azi and I will always consider Belvedere our home," Barmand said in an email to Mayor Sandy Donnell. "We are confident that in our retirement years we will once again be able to offer our services to the city that has given us so much."

A real estate developer and former engineer for the Marin County Department of Public Works and the town of Tiburon, Barmand was elected to the council in an uncontested race in 2010.

Barmand's term ends in July 2014.

The City Council will meet Friday to consider a staff recommendation to appoint a replacement for Barmand. Alternatively the council could authorize a special mail-in election at an estimated cost of $9,120 to $12,160.

The Belvedere City Council will meet at 10:45 a.m. Friday at 450 San Rafael Ave. to discuss the replacement of City Councilman Siavash Barmand. The council will also hold a closed session to discuss the city manager position.